Article originally written on Medium in June 16, 2020.
As Cuban-Americans, we stand in solidarity with Black organizers in their historic struggle to end systemic racism and affirm that Black Lives Matter. While the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery were the catalysts of the ongoing global protests seeking justice, white power structures have prevented people of African descent — including Afro-Cubans — from obtaining economic opportunities, growing generational wealth, benefitting from an equitable education system, accessing health care, or even feeling safe inside their own homes and neighborhoods.
As advocates for human rights in Cuba, we’ve watched peaceful protests escalate into chaos with the excessive use of force by police with alarm. We believe in the freedom of speech, right to protest, and equal protection under the law. The protests that have taken place across the country are the purest expression of democracy, not a challenge to it. We all have the duty to listen to, learn from, amplify, and invest in these efforts. Communities have a right to determine how they’re policed and identify where resources are most needed. No agency, municipality, city, state, or country is above reproach or beyond reform.
We recognize that this work needs to start within our own community. While Cuban-Americans share a painful legacy of exile, family separation, and political violence, those of us who are white have not endured the systemic abuse and racial injustice Afro-Cubans faced and continue to experience in our adopted country. Our patriots and poets, our artists and musicians, our joys and heartbreaks bind us together. Yet too often, the politics of fear and division have kept us apart. The myth of a monolithic white Cuban diaspora and the unearned privilege of race allowed some members of our community to walk through doors when they could have broken down barriers for African-American, Haitian, and other Caribbean communities in U.S. cities. That needs to change.
By signing this letter in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, we commit to creating a space for all Cuban-Americans to engage with the cause of racial justice.
Join us by going to this link and adding your name: https://forms.gle/2U7SbwFnTet3C9YV8
This statement was prepared by Ana Sofía Peláez, Co-Founder of the Miami Freedom Project, Cherie Cancio of the Cuba One Foundation, and Felice Gorordo of Raíces de Esperanza, in solidarity with the following signatories:
Abbie B. Cuellar, Attorney, Miami
Ada Ferrer, Professor & Historian, New York City
Adrian Acosta, Attorney, Adrian Acosta PLLC, Miami
Adrian Villaraos, Attorney, Pinecrest, Miami
Agustin Castellanos, Media Coordinator
Ahmed Mori, Attorney, Miami
Aida De la Cruz Dean, Retired Teacher
Alana Greer, Attorney, Miami
Alejandra Piers-Torres, Government and Community Relations, Washington, DC
Alex Rosales, Programs Associate, Miami
Alexa Bohorques
Alexis Vargas, Motion Graphic Designer, Hialeah
Alia Almeida
Alicia de la O, Attorney
Alicia Pelaez, Miami
Amelia Arce, International Marketing
Amore Rodriguez , MSW, MPA
Ana Dopico, Professor
Ana Estorino Uribasterra, Miami Lakes
Ana Nunez, Attorney, Durham
Andrés Acebo, Lawyer
Angelica Carlozzi , Owner, Licensed Massage Therapist, Ocala
Anna Kushner, Translator/Writer, Jackson Heights, NY
Ani Soriano, Medical Administrator, Loving Souls, Hollywood
Annie Lord, Miami
Anyoli Font Bailey, Hialeah Kiwanis
Ariel Fernandez-Diaz, Music Biz Entrepreneur, Miami
Arielle Trujillo Brimacombe, Physical Therapist, Miami
Arlet Manso
Armamdo Vilaseca, Retired Vermont Secretary of Education, Cuban American Friendship Society, Westford, VT
Aymarah Robles, Pulmonary/Critical Care Physician
Barbara Cullen
Barbara Marquez-Prater, Customer Service Supervisor, Miami
Brian Erice, Video Game Developer
Caitlin Opperman, Break Something, Washington, D.C.
Carlos J. Martinez , Miami-Dade Public Defender, Miami
Carmen Peláez, Filmmaker, Miami
Carolina Figueredo, Registered Nurse, Boca Raton
Carolina Gorordo, Physical Therapist, Silver Spring, MD
Carolina McCabe, Student
Caryn Lavernia, AVP Engagement
Cassia DeMayo , Vocalist
Cecilia Almeida, Lawyer
Charles Walter, Communication Chair, Miami
Chelsea Gwizdala, Musician, Glendale
Christina LaRocca, Lawyer
Christina Rosalin Peña, Immigration Activist
Christina Rodriguez de Conte, Artist& Educator, Tallahassee
Christy Cancio, UpSwing Multimedia, Miami
Christy Vidal, Communications Strategist, Miami
Claudia Ansorena, Designer
Claudia Moris, Miami Lakes
Corinne DeBacher, Teacher
Cristina Blanco, Miami
Cristina García, Author and Playwright, San Francisco
Cristina Pla-Guzman, Teacher, Miami
Daniel Segundo, ASW
Daniela Ferrera, Community Activist
Dannielle Gonzalez, Student Life Counselor
David Barrios, New York
David de Cespedes, Technology Teacher
David González, Black Lives Matter, aDazzlingDove
Dayla Ruiz, Corporate trainer, Homestead
Debbie Bonora
Deborah Andres, Consulltant, Miami
Diana Fernandez
Dionisio Lamar, Handyman, Miami
Eduardo Ferrer, Attorney
Eduardo Placer, Founder and Entrepreneur, Fearless Communicators
Eileen DiFranco
Elise Ramos, Public Health Professional
Elizabeth Cerejido
Elizabeth Ortega, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Miami
Ellie Hidalgo, Dolores Mission, Los Angeles
Elsa Garcia, Lawyer and Teacher, Miami
Emily Jones, Graduate Student, Anthropology
Enrique Guzman Karell, Self employed, Miami
Erica Guzman
Ernesto Mendez, Pharmacist, Miami
Dr. Eva Silot Bravo, Director and Founder, Alafia Creative Entertainment, Miami
Evelyn Vigistain Pérez, Investments
Frank Garcia, Florida
Frank O. Mora, Professor, Miami
Gabriela Aleman Vassallo, Cuba Educational Travel, Miami
Gabriela De Francisco, Teacher, Miami
Gabriella Ibieta, University Professor
Gabrielle Mendoza, Valley Stream, NY
Geandy Pavón, Artist, New York
Geisy Sanz, Chicago
Gladis Sánchez, Attorney, New York
Gladys Herrera, Miami
Gloria Calderón Kellett, Producer, Los Angeles
Haidee Cano, LCSW
Hele Mendoza
Hilda Alvarez-Strang, Technical Writer, Miami
Hugo Cancio, Activist, Business Executive, Miami
Ibis Valdes, DEI Consultant, Ibis Valdes Consulting, LLC
Ileana Oroza, Miami
Iraida López, Professor, New Jersey
Iris Rodriguez, Hialeah
Isabel Moreira, Seattle
Ivette Elizondo, Paralegal, Miami
Ivette Rabeiro, Lawyer
Jackie Enriquez, University Administrator
JC Mendoza, Queens, NY
Jenny Lee Molina, Founder, JLPR + 305 Cafecito, Miami
Jessica Winn, Attorney, Boston
Jhon Cores, Research Laboratory Manager
Jillian Nogueira
Joey Greer, Los Angeles
Jonathan Klopp, Climate Change Practitioner, Miami
Jordi Vilasuso, Actor, Los Angeles
Jorge B. de Cárdenas, Attorney
Jorge Bonet, Hialeah, Fl
Jorge Quintana, Attorney, Montana
Jose Perez-Roura, Hospitality
Joseph Jenovese, Designer, Y.A.Bera Clothing
Juan Alonso-Rodríguez, Juan Alonso Studio, Seattle, WA
Juan Gabriel Roca-Paisley, Student
Juan Sanchez, Playwright, Miami
Juanky Campuzano, Producer/Freelancer
Judith De la Paz, Gainesville
Justin Borroto, Recruitment Manager, Washington, DC
Kasandra Landrian-Ramos
Katerina Dominguez, Legal Intern, Palm Beach Gardens
Katherine Ordoñez
Katina Sosa, Hospitality Management
Keytia Ortiz, Development Director
KM Fernandez
Kristen Merino, History Teacher, Miami
Kristian Sedeno, Banker, New York
Kristie-Anne Padron, Attorney, Miami
Laura Muñoz
Lauren Suarez, Psychologist
Leilani Bruce, Founder, CANDELA Book Club, Miami
Leon Ichaso, Writer and Director, Los Angeles
Leslie Alvarez, Chicago
Leslie Suárez
Lianet Vazquez, Medical Student
Lillian A. Tamayo, President, Planned Parenthood South, East and North Florida
Lisann Ramos, Writer, Project Pulso, Miami
Livia Romero, Quality Improvement Coordinator
Lorenzo Canizares, Co-Chair Labor Community Alliance of South Florida
Lourdes Toñarely, Substitute Teacher, Miami
Lucas Hernández, Technology Professional, Miami
Lucy Godínez , Actor
Luis Carlos Battista
Magda T. Garcia, Professor (ret.)
Magena Rodriguez, Attorney and Former Educator
Maggie Cikota
Maggie Ruiz, Student, Miami
Margarita Almeida, MD
Maria Bechily, Civic Leader, Miami Beach
Maria Cristina Chicuen, Community Organizer, Miami
Maria Dieguez, Miami Gardens
Maikel Farinas Borrego, Professor, Chapel Hill, NC
Maria Freed, Editor, Old Coconut Grove Houses, Coconut Grove, Florida
María Gilson, Program Coordinator
Maria C Gonzalez, Professor/Behavioral Health Field
Maria Elena Lopez, Property Manager, LLV Realty
María A Prio, Retired Mental Health Counselor, Miami
Maria de los Angeles Torres, Professor, University of Illinois, Chicago
Maria Ponciano, Teacher, Elmhurst
Maria Revello, Retired Educator, LUTZ
Maria Uribasterra
Maria Veliz, Ph.D Candidate, Miami
Mariah Jimenez Peña, Accountant, Memphis
Mariana Ferreiro, Pembroke Pines
Martha Ayon, Community Organizer
Martha Diaz-Reinold
Mary Ann Ruiz, Attorney
Mary Guzmán, Filmmaker, Theater Director, San Francisco
Melissa Medina Jiménez, President, eMerge Americas, Miami
Melody Santiago Cummings, O’Miami Poetry Festival, Miami
Mich Gonzalez, Immigrant & LGBTQ Rights Attorney
Michael Rivero, Sales
Michelle Llosa, Paralegal
Miguel Sirgado, Journalist, New York
Milagros Alvarez, Attorney, New Jersey
Miti Figueredo, lawyer, Silver Spring, MD
Monika Rivero, Administrative Program Coordinator
Natali Fernandez, Student
Natalie Castellanos, Attorney, Miami
Natalie Catasús, Atlanta
Natalie Martinez, Legislative Staffer
Natalee Rivero, Life & Mindset Coach
Nerida Rodriguez, Retired Accountant, Miami
Niurca Marquez, Artist/Educator
Norys Curbelo, Tampa
Pablo Medina, Artist, Brooklyn
Pablo Uribasterra
Patricia Pujals Brayfield, Pasadena
Pedro Greer, M.D., Physician/Academic
Penelope DiAlberto, Social Worker, Miami
Peter Fernandez, Entertainer, Miami
Phil Lord, Filmmaker, Los Angeles
Rafael Rodriguez, Law Enforcement, Miami
Raul Guzman, Miami
Rebeca Fernandez, Professor
Ricardo Herrero, Arlington, VA
Rigo Canal, Philadelphia
Romy Aranguiz, Medical Doctor
Rosa Maria Castaneda, Philanthropy
Rosie Hidalgo, Lawyer/Policy Director, Vienna, VA
Sabrina Scandar
Sanabel Mahmoud, Miami
Sandra Alvarez, Flight Attendant
Sandra Lue, New York
Silvia Clarke, Sales Executive
Silviana Guerra, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Stephanie Machado-Lynch, Adjunct Professor
Susana Bejar, Physician
Susana Dia, School Counselor & Family Therapist, Miami
T. Sean McKean, Leadership Advisor, New York
Tania Bruguera, Artist, New York
Tatiana Balletti, Photographer, Tats Takes Shots, Miami
Teresa Erdman, Retired Banker, Cupertino
Teresa Reigosa, Researcher and Educator, Macon, Georgia
Teri Saff, Consultant, Millersville, MD
Tiffany Ellis, Nurse, Miami
Tomás Delgado, Medical Student, Hialeah
Tony (Toño) Haywood, Portfolio Manager
Vanessa Navarro Maza, Miami
Vanessa Pérez, Jeweler
Victor Gonzalez, Storyteller, Minneapolis
Victoria Alsina, Associate Marketing Manager
Victoria Casanova, Retired, FL
Vince Alvarez
Vivian Figueredo
Vivian Guzman-Valido, Goverment Admin
Vivian Charbonnet, Baton Rouge, LA
Vivian López-Mendoza, Translator/Editor
Vivianne Bohorques, Chief Operations Officer
Wifredo Fernandez
Yissel Cabrera, Attorney
Yosvani Oliva, Poet, Miami
Yvette Rodriguez, Afro-Latino Professionals of Miami, Tres Lindas Cubanas Cigars, Y.R. Public Relations, Miami
Yvonne Rodriguez, Afro-Latino Professionals of Miami, Tres Lindas Cubanas Cigars, Y.R. Public Relations, Miami
